Obituaries (August 29)

Thomas E. Ashton

Utica Saturday Globe, December 1915

 

Thomas E. Ashton

1847 - 1915

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  While throwing a switch in the Ontario & Western Railroad yard shortly after 6 o'clock Sunday morning, Thomas E. Ashton was caught and fatally injured.  Mr. Ashton, who was regularly employed as a brakeman with one of the day switch crews, had gone to work at 5:15 and in the course of his duties had turned the switch to permit the passage of the shifting engine from the main track to a siding on the east.  The stand from which the switch was operated is midway between the main track and a long siding paralleling it on the west.  Intent on operating the switch and watching the passage of the switch engine to the east track Mr. Ashton did not heed the approach of a light engine along the siding at his back.  The tracks at this point and for a considerable distance are eight feet apart.  The light engine either struck him or caught his clothing.  The first intimation that any of the other members of the crew had of anything wrong was when one of them missed the light of the lantern Mr. Ashton carried.  They at once ran up the track to the point where the engine had stopped and found Mr. Ashton seriously injured.  He had been dragged 60 feet but was conscious.  A stretcher was quickly brought and the injured man removed to the Railroad Y.M.C. rooms where Drs. Manly and Hartigan were partially successful in stopping the flow of blood.  The right leg was nearly severed at the hip and so close to the body that effective measures for stopping the flow could not be applied.  An ambulance was summoned and the injured brakeman taken to the Norwich Hospital, where he stood the shock of amputation nicely and the physicians were successful in lessening the leakage of blood, but internal injuries developed that proved fatal about 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Ashton was a very popular employee and was known not only in Norwich but along the line.  He came here from Sidney in 1895, serving as brakeman.  For a number of years he was under conductor John Close on the runs from Norwich to Utica and to Oswego.  For the past few years he had been in one of the switch crews in the local yard. At the time of his fatal accident he was under conductor Christopher Quinn.  Deceased was the son of Thomas and Christina Newkirk Ashton and was born in Cherry Valley [Otsego Co., NY] October 16, 1847.  A few years ago he married Miss Catherine Sullivan of Oswego.  Besides his wife, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. John A. Randall, of Norwich; one sister, Mrs. Harry H. Walton, of Sidney, and two brothers, Joseph S. Ashton, of this city, and Gordon Ashton of North Norwich.  The deceased was an honored member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the local order turning out in force for the funeral Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The services were held at the house on York street, Rev William Bamfather, of Sidney, officiating.  The floral offerings were numerous and very beautiful, The body was placed in the receiving vault in Mount Hope Chapel [Norwich, NY] awaiting burial at another date.

Perry Burlingame

Afton Enterprise, March 18, 1920

Relatives and friends of Perry Burlingame were greatly shocked to hear of his death, which occurred at his home, Algona, Iowa, Monday, Feb. 16th, death resulting from heart trouble.  He had been ill since Feb. 5th, but owing to the congested mails at his time of year, word of his illness did not reach his native town until after the message arrived telling of his "passing on."  Perry Burlingame was born in South Bainbridge, now Afton, N.Y. [Chenango Co., NY], on Nov. 5th, 1846, at the old Burlingame "homestead" on Algerine St.  This old homestead his father, Rufus Burlingame, and mother, Alvira Landers Burlingame, bought in early married life and in 1836 built, and here spent the rest of their lives, raising a family of four children.  Perry was the third child and only son  the old homestead is still in possession of the Burlingames, Perry owning one-half interest. In 1869 he responded to the great call "go west, young man, go west."  and May 31st 1869, he took up a "homesteader" lot of 80 acres, in Kossuth Co., Iowa and for nearly 51 years, he was spared to till and care for his farm.  Year by year he added acres and improvements, and to this farm in 1877 he took his "York State" bride.  Miss Julia Etta Stevens, of Colesville, new York.  Many were the hardships and privations of their pioneer lives, but the sturdy character of their "Pilgrim ancestors" helped them to win the great struggle and they amassed a large farm and fortune.  His wife passed away in May 6, 1916, and now his "going away" leaves the three saddened children alone in the far West, Bernie, who is married and lives near by, Nellie and Herbert, at the home.  Besides he leaves two sisters, Mrs. Zeruah Landers, of Afton, and Mrs. George F. Demeree, of Harpursville, the oldest and youngest of the family.  The other sister passed on before hi'm about seven years ago.

Eloise Tracey

Scrapbook kept by Mary Dietz

Gilbertsville Free Library, Gilbertsville, NY

Mrs. Eloise Tracey died at the Otsego county sanitarium at Mt. Vision at about half-past four o'clock Monday morning, November 19, 1934, where she had been a patient since last June.  Mrs. Tracey was born in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] April 29, 1902 and was the daughter of Walter and Mabel (Utter) Ney.  She was united in marriage with Earl Tracey of Chenango county November 1 2, 1921, and to her as born three children, Lewis and Carl, of Ithaca, and Julia of Gilbertsville.  She had spent most of her life in the neighborhood of Norwich until about three years ago when she came to reside in this town.  She is survived by the three children above mentioned, and her mother, Mrs. Mabel Gilbert, of Butternuts; two half-brothers; Merritt Norton of Binghamton, Myron Gilbert, of Butternuts, and one sister, Mrs. George Coville of Norwich. The  funeral services were held from the home of Charles Haigh at two o'clock.  Wednesday afternoon.  Rev. W.J. Graig, pastor of the Presbyterian church officiating and the burial was in Evergreen cemetery at White Store [Chenango Co., NY].

Adelbert M. Utter

Jan. 18, 1934 (Guernsey Memorial Library obituary collection)

Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY]:  Funeral services were held this afternoon at 1 o'clock for the late Adelbert M. Utter from the home of his son-in-law, Charles Filer near Rootville.  Burial was made at White's Store [Chenango Co., NY].  His death occurred late Monday night following an illness of nine days. The late Mr. Utter was born in the town of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] in 1856.  He was the son of Merton B. and Phoebe (Haynes) Utter.  He married Cynthia Merritt of Norwich July 9, 1878.  Surviving are four daughters, four sons, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, three brothers and one sister.

Death Notices

Chenango Union, May 6, 1875

BLINEBURY:  At the county home in Preston [Chenango Co., NY], May 1, 1875, Mrs. Blineberry aged 82 years, one of the original members of the M.E. Church in Norwich. 

Chenango Union, May 13, 1875

HICKS:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], May 6, 1875, Mr. Gurdon Hicks, aged 75 years.

HAINES:  In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], May 11, Jane, wife of Edward Baines, aged 24 years.

WAIT:  In Plymouth [Chenango Co., NY], May 11, Carrie A. wife of Andrus Wait, aged 19 years, 9 months 7 days.

KENYON:  At Pitcher Springs [Chenango Co.,  NY], April  30, 1875 Elizabeth Kenyon, widow of the late Manson Kenyon, aged 62 years.

STRATTON:  In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], April 29, Nettie [Stratton], daughter of Charles E. and Marion L. Stratton, aged 2 years, 3 months 13 days.